Finally feel financially secure enough to feel ready to start something, so I started earlier last week.
It feels like something really good to counter the seemingly deteriorating mental health from working at a bland day job. It feels really good to take charge of something and have it totally be my own.
I'm aiming to launch a small line of products.
So far I...
- Modeled some products in 3D. I have many sketches over time, but I started modeling some of them, and it was very gratifying to be able to see realistic prototypes, even if they are just digital for now.
- I researched some makers that could produce it and got some information back - really helpful to estimate production/start-up costs. It's achievable.
- Tried to fill out a business license online, but the website is glitchy so I'm going to print out the forms at work and do it tomorrow, then take it to the appropriate office on Friday when I can get off earlier from work to submit the forms and pay the fees.
- I read the approval for license can take up to 45 days, and now I'm annoyed I didn't know this before/didn't do it earlier. So I'm hoping it's faster than that because I'd like to officially select a production studio and submit an official production inquiry, because the lead time to get the whole order is long. Like half a year long. But that corresponds with my desired product launch date in the spring, so I want to speed things up as much as possible.
- Set up custom email with business domain
- Set up website w/ Shopify, sort of, even though it's really early to be doing this part. It's not published or anything, it's just stuff I'm tinkering with in the backend.
- Set up a Gant Chart for this whole process up to website launch date, because I'm a visual person and am used to working on project schedules this way.
Things to do after business license is approved:
- Set up cashflow stuff, like checking and look into getting a business credit card. I'm thinking Chase Ink.
- Fund my business checking account.
- Establish business address w/ courier, so business stuff doesn't appear to be coming from a place of residence, even though it is. :)
- Finalize product collection to just a few items.
- Coordinate production order w/ chosen studio
- Figure out branding/marketing items
- Figure out packaging/shipping logistics
- Research Amazon FBA advantages/disadvantages vs. having inventory at home w/ scheduled courier pick ups.
- Figure out additional sources of income. Do freelance jobs to help build up business funds even more and expand options. Maybe photography...
I wish I started earlier, but I'm glad I'm starting now.